title: Serum vitamin A and beta-carotene levels in children with recurrent acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea in Malatya.
abstract: Deficiency of serum vitamin A is one of the widespread public health problem among pre-school children in developing countries. A limited number of studies have been done about this problem in Turkey and there is no similar work done in Malatya. Serum vitamin A and beta-carotene levels in 56 pre-school age children who had recurrent acute respiratory infections (ARI) or recurrent diarrhoea were determined by a UV/VIS spectrometer. The results obtained were compared with 35 healthy pre-school age children. Serum vitamin A (51.66 +/- 8.10 micrograms/dL) and beta-carotene (82.88 +/- 18.5 micrograms/dL) levels in children with ARI's were found significantly lower than the control group (58.14 +/- 9.07 micrograms/dL and 131.43 +/- 22.38 micrograms/dL, respectively) (P < 0.001). Serum vitamin A (47.21 +/- 8.27 micrograms/dL) and beta-carotene (81.63 +/- 15.41 micrograms/dL) levels in children with recurrent diarrhoea were also found significantly lower than the control group (58.14 +/- 9.07 micrograms/dL and 131.43 +/- 22.38 micrograms/dL, respectively) (P < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Arts, Department of Chemistry, Inönü University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Küçükbay
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yakinci
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Küçükbay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turgut
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003906:Developing Countries; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A